Chapter 35: The Exorbitant Equipment
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Under the richly painted darkness of night, the leader of the evil cultivators guided a large force through the dense forest like a host of ghosts.
After traveling some distance, the leader suddenly stopped. His brows drew tightly together, as though he were weighing an important decision.
“Leave a small squad behind. Follow the tracks we discovered earlier and retrace our path.”
His voice was low and forceful. Every word seemed squeezed through clenched teeth, carrying an authority that allowed no challenge.
A cunning light flickered in his eyes, as though he had already seen through everything.
A squad composed of several evil cultivators swiftly obeyed his command. They turned and raced back the way they had come, like cheetahs in the night pursuing some elusive prey.
Yet when the squad reached the area where Su Hao and the others had erased their traces, they were left bewildered.
The once-clear footprints abruptly vanished, as though some mysterious power had wiped them away.
“What happened? How did they disappear all of a sudden?”
The squad leader’s voice was filled with confusion. His eyes swept across the surroundings, searching for the slightest clue.
“Search carefully. Do not overlook a single corner.”
The squad leader issued the order, a trace of anxiety and tension creeping into his voice.
The evil cultivators responded at once and began combing the area, trying to find the vanished tracks.
Yet no matter how hard they searched, they could not uncover the slightest trace.
“Still nothing. Could they really have vanished into thin air?”
One of the evil cultivators could not help asking, his voice tinged with fear and unease.
The squad leader’s expression darkened further.
He drew a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, then gave a new order:
“Expand the search area. They must still be nearby. I refuse to believe they can fly. They must have used some method to conceal their tracks. We will find them!”
Under the squad leader’s direction, the evil cultivators widened their search. Like headless flies, they darted chaotically through the dense forest in pursuit of their missing prey.
Yet in that ancient and mysterious woodland, Su Hao and the others had already merged with the vast forest like drops of water falling into the sea, disappearing without a trace.
Across the wilderness as twilight slowly swallowed the land, the squad leader’s face was livid. His fists were clenched so tightly that it seemed he wished to crush the air itself.
He cursed under his breath, his voice filled with fury and unwillingness.
“Hmph. Consider yourselves lucky, you few insects. You actually managed to escape my grasp today!
“Enough. We withdraw. We will return and regroup with the main force before making our next move.”
The night was black as ink, the stars sparse, and silence lay over the land.
Beneath the dim moonlight, the squad of evil cultivators hurried back. Their footsteps mingled with the night wind, unnaturally sharp across the open wilderness.
A shadow hung over every heart, woven from fear of the unknown and frustration at their failure.
Four hours later, when the first faint rays of dawn barely pierced the heavy clouds and slanted across the desolate land, the squad leader had brought his men back to the rendezvous point agreed upon with the main force.
His expression was grave and his steps heavy, as though every footfall landed directly upon his heart.
Confronted by the leader’s sharp, hawklike eyes, the squad leader lowered his head and spoke in a low, trembling voice:
“My lord, we pursued them for more than a mile before the traces of those individuals vanished like morning mist.
“We searched for half an hour. Footprints, auras, or any other possible clue—all seemed to have been swallowed completely by the earth. There was nothing left.”
The leader’s brows knitted together. A cruel smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, containing both contempt for the escaped prey and displeasure at the incompetence of his subordinates.
He began to pace slowly, each step seeming to measure the ground beneath him—and the punishment about to descend.
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“Useless!”
The leader finally spoke. His voice was low and powerful, like a judgment rising from the abyss.
“You managed to fail at such a simple task. What face do you have left to stand beneath my command? Still, in consideration of the hardship you endured on the journey, I will let this offense stand for now.
“Remember this: next time, I want to see the heads of those people, not your pathetic excuses!”
With that, the leader flicked his sleeve, turned, and walked away, leaving the squad members staring at one another in uneasy silence.
In the primeval forest of Alpha Beta Planet, Su Hao was facing an unprecedented challenge.
As a reserve cleaner, he not only had to search for clues and complete missions in this unknown territory, but also remain constantly alert for enemies he might encounter.
Yet within this dense forest, the enemies’ attributes and combat strength were often impossible to discern, causing immense inconvenience to Su Hao’s movements.
Just then, the communications system of the Cosmic Environmental Protection Agency sounded once more, as though it had appeared specifically to resolve his predicament:
[Reserve Cleaner Su Hao, we have learned that you are currently experiencing difficulties scouting the primeval forest of Alpha Beta Planet, particularly in determining the attributes and combat strength of your enemies.
“To address this problem, we have specially prepared an advanced scouting device for you. It can analyze enemy attributes in real time, including such key indicators as strength, speed, and defense, while also providing a corresponding combat-strength assessment.]
Su Hao’s heart stirred at the news.
He knew that in an environment so full of danger and uncertainty, equipment capable of accurately detecting an enemy’s attributes and combat strength would undoubtedly be of tremendous assistance.
He hurriedly asked, “How much does this device cost? Is there an opportunity for a free trial?”
The reply from the Cosmic Environmental Protection Agency came quickly:
[Reserve Cleaner, the usage fee for this scouting device is eight hundred cosmic credits per day. It provides detailed and accurate information.
“Of course, we are also offering you a free trial. You may use it free of charge for one hour so that you can better understand its functions and performance.]
Su Hao silently calculated the matter.
Although the device’s cost was relatively high, considering the enormous assistance it could provide, the investment was clearly worthwhile.
Deep within the shadowy and mysterious primeval forest of Alpha Beta Planet, Su Hao moved soundlessly among towering trees.
The scouting device provided by the Cosmic Environmental Protection Agency rested quietly in his storage space, like a mysterious treasure awaiting awakening.
Su Hao considered the matter in silence.
“This device should be highly agile, perhaps like a modern drone, capable of rising into the air and gathering complete information about enemies.
“But no enemies have appeared yet. If I use it recklessly, would that not waste this precious trial period?”
Just as he was pondering this, a faint rustling suddenly came from the dense forest ahead.
Su Hao immediately grew alert. He advanced slowly, his eyes sharp as he tried to see through the thick foliage and determine what lay ahead.
Yet because of the obstructing leaves and limited visibility, he could make out only a few familiar figures moving in the distance.
A thought occurred to him. Could he use the device to scan the five disciples of the Jade Luo Sect?
They were his allies, companions fighting alongside him in this primeval forest.
In an environment fraught with danger, even the slightest lapse in vigilance could lead to fatal consequences.
He decided to seize this opportunity to test the scouting device provided by the Cosmic Environmental Protection Agency and see whether it could grant him a wider range of perception and more accurate information about potential enemies.
He quickly took the agile device from his pack. It was small and delicate, resembling a bird poised to spread its wings.
He gently pressed the activation button. The indicator light flashed at once, giving off a soft glow.
With a faint humming sound, the scouting device slowly rose into the air. Like a light butterfly, it danced gracefully above him.
Su Hao fixed his eyes on the display. The screen clearly showed the situation of the five Jade Luo Sect disciples ahead.
They were moving forward with solemn expressions, seemingly searching for something as well.
The scouting device had not only captured their figures, but had also accurately analyzed their strength and condition.
This gave Su Hao a far more complete and detailed understanding of his allies.
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What surprised Su Hao even more was that the scouting device also detected the faintest movements in the surrounding environment.
An exotic beast hidden within the bushes was easily picked up by the device. Its form and aura appeared clearly on the display.
In addition, a faint yet dangerous presence in the distance was also detected. It was the aura of an unknown enemy, quietly approaching the area.
Su Hao drew a deep breath, sensing the tremendous advantage this scouting device offered.
He knew that in future explorations and battles, it would become an indispensable and capable assistant.
He promptly relayed the information gathered by the device to the Jade Luo Sect disciples ahead, allowing them to prepare in advance for whatever dangers might arise.
Upon hearing Su Hao’s warning, the five disciples immediately became more alert.
They looked gratefully toward the direction where Su Hao was hiding. Although they could not see him directly, they knew that he had remained by their side, providing powerful support and assistance.
Within that ancient and shadowy primeval forest, Su Hao resembled a calm commander. His eyes remained fixed on the small yet extraordinarily capable scouting device in his hand as he controlled it, guiding it nimbly through the air.
The device was like an intelligent bird. With its keen perception, it continuously gathered information on every combatant within a radius of one thousand meters, providing Su Hao with vital battlefield intelligence.
Points of light adorned the dense forest on the screen like stars. Allies were marked in gentle green, while enemies appeared in a glaring, flame-bright red.
Amid that surreal sea of lights, Su Hao’s gaze was drawn to one particular green point.
It emitted a soft yet resolute glow, as though telling the story of its owner—Biluochun, the senior disciple of the Jade Luo Sect—moving calmly through the perilous forest.
[Ally Name: Biluochun, female, senior disciple of the Jade Luo Sect.
Intelligence: 10 points; Constitution: 9 points; Agility: 8 points; Strength: 8 points; Luck: 5 points; Charisma: 8 points.
Comparing overall combat strength with that of the reserve cleaner.
Result: This ally’s combat strength is only thirty percent of yours.]
Through the detailed information on the display, Su Hao gained a more comprehensive and profound understanding of Biluochun’s combat strength.
He could almost see her resolute eyes through the dense foliage, engaging him in a silent exchange.
He continued controlling the scouting device, drawing graceful arcs through the air and taking in more and more battlefield information.
Every flickering point of light seemed to tell a story of courage, wisdom, and sacrifice.
Su Hao discovered a red point eight hundred meters ahead. He fixed his gaze upon the mark representing an enemy force:
[The enemy’s intelligence is comparable to yours. You can obtain all attributes and skills.
Name: Jiyuchen, male, supreme leader of the evil cultivators in this region.
Intelligence: 21 points.
Constitution: 33 points.
Agility: 21 points.
Strength: 38 points.
Class: Sword Cultivator.
Skill One: Master Swordsman, Level 38—Rapid Cleaving Slash. Attack Power: 360.
Skill Two: Master Free Combat, Level 36—連环飞腿. Attack Power: 330...]
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